1.3.12. Topology Navigator

The Topology Navigator shows the dependencies of the selected entity as shown in the figure below. When selecting another entity, the dependency information is automatically updated. In the Topology Navigator, selectable entities are known as Nodes. These can be bodies, joints, forces, contacts, design points, design frames or design variables.

The connecting relationship is indicated by an arrow. The arrowhead end points to the Action Entity and the other end to the Base Entity.

Figure 1.28: Features of the Topology Navigator

The features of the Topology Navigator are described in the table below.

Figure 1.29: Description of the Topology Navigator

Feature	Description
1. Topology Navigator window	Shows the connected relationships for each entity.
2. Backward	Go to the previous Center Node according to the selection history.
3. Forward	Go to the next Center Node according to the selection history.
4. Fit	Fit the Topology Navigator map to the window.
5. Center	Move the Topology Navigator map to the center of the window.
6. Lock Topology Navigator	Lock the navigator to the selected entity.
7. Show Full Name of Entities	Show the full name of entities (the full name contains all of the assembled subsystem names).
8. Layout Algorithm	Change the layout algorithm to show the relationship between connected entities. Tree or Radial types are available.
9. Refresh	Refresh the information in the Topology Navigator.
10. Copy to Clipboard	Copy the current Topology Navigator map as an image to the clipboard. You can then copy and paste that image into another document.
11. Save to Image File	Save the current Topology Navigator map as image file.
12. View	Set the layout of the Topology Navigator. You can show and hide the Filter and Entity List windows.
13. Filter	Filter the entity types. Entities that are cleared from the list are filtered out from the Topology Navigator window. By clicking the arrow button, you can expand or collapse this Filter window.
14. Entity List	Show the list of entities that are displayed in the Topology Navigator window. By clicking the arrow button, you can expand or collapse this Entity List window.

When a Node is selected, that Node is referred to as the Center Node. The Center Node is shown in the navigator with a red outline and the other Nodes are placed in a Tree or Radial layout type around the Center Node. You can change the Center Node by double-clicking another Node. The covered range of dependency is from the current Center Node to an adjacent connected body.

Figure 1.30: Description of node types for the Topology Navigator

Node Type	Definition
	The Center Node is the node that is selected as an entity in the Working Window or Subsystem Navigator. It is marked with a red outline (MB in this figure).
	A General Node is any node other than the Center Node (RB and FB in this figure).
	An Expandable Node is a node that has connections other than the current connection. It is marked with a double outline (RB in this figure).

The supported entities in the Topology Navigator are shown in the following table.

Figure 1.31: Supporting entities in the Topology Navigator.

Entity Type	Entity Name	Main Name of Node	Sub Name of Node
Body	Solid Body	RB	-
	Assembled Body	RB	-
	EasyFlex Nodal Body	MB	N
	EasyFlex Modal Body	MB	M
	FE Nodal Body	FB	N
	FE Modal Body	FB	M
Connection	Revolute Joint	J	RV
	Translational Joint	J	TR
	Fixed Joint	J	FX
	Ball Joint	J	BA
	Cylindrical Joint	J	CY
	Plane Joint	J	PL
	Distance Joint	J	DI
	Universal Joint	J	UV
	Screw Joint	J	SC
	Constant Velocity Joint	J	CV
	Orientation Constraint	J	OR
	Parallel Constraint	J	PR
	Inline Constraint	J	IL
	Inplane Constraint	J	IP
	Perpendicular Constraint	J	PP
	Coupler Constraint	J	CP
	Gear Constraint	J	GR
	Rack & Pinion Constraint	J	RP
	Cable Constraint	J	CB
	PTCV	J	PC
	CVCV	J	CC
	Boundary Condition	J	BC
	Spring Force	F	TS
	Rotational Spring Force	F	RS
	Busing Force	F	BS
	Matrix Force	F	MX
	Translational Scalar Force	F	TF
	Rotational Scalar Force	F	RF
	Vector Force	F	VF
	Concentrated Force	F	CL
	Pressure Force	F	PL
	Tire Force	F	TI
	General Bearing Force	F	BR
	Single Body track Force	F	TR
	General Contact	C	GC
	Rigid to Rigid Contact	C	RR
	Flexible to Rigid Contact	C	FR
	Flexible to Flexible Contact	C	FF
	Sphere to Multicurve Contact	C	SM
	Cylinder to Multicurve	C	CM
	Multicurve to Multicurve	C	MM
	Tie Contact	C	TC
Design Subentity	Design Frame	DF	-
	Design Point	DP	-
	Design Variable	DV	-

Various features are supported in a drop-down menu as with the Subsystem Navigator (see Subsystem Navigator for more information).

Figure 1.32: Drop-down menus in the Topology Navigator